(Brunswick, Md, October 31,
2013) – Thaddeus Gabel approached Robert Hadley, of the Brunswick Volunteer
Fire Company (BVFC), with a question during Brunswick Railroad Days earlier
this month. Robert and other BVFC members were on site to educate the public on
fire safety during this annual community event.
Thaddeus asked “If I was in the shower, how would my Mom know the
smoke alarm was going off?” Thaddeus explained that his Mother, Jenniffer Gunderson,
has been deaf since birth and is unable to hear the smoke alarm they have in
their home when it activates. For the eight year old third grader, who attends
Brunswick Elementary School, this is a natural concern as he regularly handles
the American Sign Language interpretation duties for his Mom.
After returning to the fire station, Hadley and fellow BVFC member
Nate Gesse contacted the Division of Fire & Rescue Services (www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/smokealarms) to see
what could be done to answer Thaddeus’s question. Ultimately, this lead the
BVFC members to the Maryland State Fireman’s Association, Fire & Injury
Prevention and Life Safety Committee (www.msfa.org/content/prevention/) which
provided two SafeAwake Intermittent Bed Shaker smoke alarm aids (safeawake.com) at no charge for BVFC to install; each aid
has a retail value of $299.95 according to SafeAwake.
Recently, BVFC members Hadley, Geese, and Brandon Knight installed
and tested both aids for Thaddeus and his Mother in their Brunswick home.
Jennifer stated “I am very thankful for what everyone did to make this happen.”
Chief Denise Pouget of the Division of Fire & Rescue Services
commented on this effort by saying, “I applaud Thaddeus for approaching the members
of the BVFC with his question and them for going above and beyond to assure
that he had a response that was satisfactory to him and his Mother. I am truly
glad that we were able to help them.”
For further information, contact Community Services Liaison Doug
Brown at 301-600-1905 or via e-mail at dbrown@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
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